Cap lifter for press fitted caps



Aug. 21, 1956 G. MRAZlK 2,759,383

CAP LIFTER FOR PRESS FITTED CAPS Filed Oct. 23, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

- GEORGE MRAZIK United States Patent CAP LIFTER FOR PRESS FITTED CAPS George Mrazik, St. Louis, Mo.

Application October 23, 1953, Serial No. 387,905

4 Claims. (Cl. 813.46)

This invention relates in general to hand tools and, more particularly, to a tool for removal of seal caps and threaded closures from containers.

Closures for containers such as metal drums or barrels for oils, gasoline, liquid chemicals, and similar products, are generally of the flange-and-plug type wherein an orifice is formed by means of an annular flange which is internally threaded to receive a threaded plug to close the container. The annular flange is formed so as to project outwardly a short distance from the container surface, and frequently an annular ring is formed around the outside of the projecting flange to provide a beaded portion on the closure flange which is spaced away from the surface of the container. In order to render the container tamper-proof, the plug is securely screwed into the projecting flange, and a seal cap having a skirt portion is placed over the exposed end of tlre flange to completely enclose the plug and the end of the projecting flange into which the plug is secured, the skirt portion of the seal cap then being crimped about said beaded portion of the flange. Such seal caps heretofore have been provided in their upper surface with scored portions to delineate tear strips so that an operator by use of a sharp pointed tool may puncture the cap and pull the tear strips to detach sections of the cap whereby the same is freed. This procedure usually involves considerable time and presents a danger to the operator of receiving cuts and like injuries from sharp edge portions of the sundered cap.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a hand tool which is adapted to engage the skirt of a closure seal cap throughout a substantial portion of its extent and by a single rocking action to disengage same from the bead on the closure flange.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hand tool of the stated character which incorporates a lug wrench portion for facilitating the removal of the closure plug which is normally enclosed by the seal cap, whereby complete container-opening may be accomplished without exchange of tools.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a hand tool which may be most economically manufactured; which is reliable and rapid in operation; and which is durable in usage.

These and other detailed objects are obtained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hand tool constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a partial, enlarged top plan view of the seal cap remover.

Figure 3 is an end View of the seal cap remover.

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view showing another for of lug wrench.

Figure 5 is a top plan View showing the hand tool in operative position upon removing a seal cap from a container closure.

Patented Aug. 21, 1956 Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a partial longitudinal section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a section taken substantially on the line 77 of Figure 5, showing the cap partially removed.

Referring now to the drawing, A broadly designates a hand tool fabricated preferably of a suitable metal, having an elongated, rod-like handle or shank 1, one end of which is bent, as at 2, and formed on the extremity thereof is a lug wrench 3. Wrench 3 may have any selected character depending upon the design of the plug which is intended to be removed, such as that incorporating a pair of oppositely projecting lug-engaging members as shown in Figure 1 or as that having a hexagonal head illustrated at 4 in Figure 4. At the other or opposite end of handle 1 th ere is provided a seal cap remover 5 which is of generally horse-shoe or U-shape having an arcuate heel 6 to the upper surface of which handle 1 is connected. Extending from opposite sides of heel 6 are projecting arms or branches 7, 7' which converge slightly toward their outer ends. On the under surface of heel 6 and arms 7, 7 is a continuous sole plate 8 which is of similar U-shape configuration having a heel portion and arms, with its outer margins being preferably flush with the adjacent portion of seal cap remover 5. The heel portion of sole plate 8 is formed on a smaller concentric arc than heel 6 whereby the inner portion of the plate 8 projects therebeyond. The arms of sole plate 8 are substantially parallel so that the inner margins thereof will decreasingly project inwardly of arms .7, 7, as they progress toward their outer ends, whereat the same will be fully received beneath the associated arms 7, 7', as at 8 (Figure 3). The projecting inner portions of sole plate 8 are bevel ed to form an inclined surface 9 leading upwardly from the bottom edges toward the adjacent portions of heel 6, and arms 7, 7', with such surface 9 having maximum extent inwardly of heel 6. It is a preferred embodiment of my invention that the sole plate 8 be secured to the U-shaped member 5 in a detachable manner, as by screws, whereby the sole plate 8 can be replaced in the event of breakage or other damage. However, it is contemplated that the sole plate 8 having the features and characteristics herein described may be made integral with the U-shaped member 5. As shown in Figure 1, handle 1 extends upwardly from seal cap remover 5 for leverage purposes, as will be shown hereinbelow.

Tool A is primarily adapted for usage with the type of closure structure shown in Figure 6 to which reference is now made. Indicated at B is a container, such as a metal drum of the type for transporting liquid material, having a head 11 with a filling or discharge opening defined by an outwardly projecting integral annular flange 12 struck therefrom or otherwise suitably fonned. Such drums are normally thin-Walled and to re-enforce the flange opening 12 there is provided a thick-walled cylindrical bus-hing 13 snugly received within flange 12. The upper edge of bushing 13 is rolled over the outer end of flange 12 to form a circumferential bead 14 on the projecting flange 12, which bead 14 is spaced away from the drum bead 11. Internally, bushing 13 is threaded for receiving a threaded closure plug 15 having an upwardly opening central recess 16, which is shaped to receive a lug wrench for screwing plug 15 into or out of bushing 13. For purposes of example, there is shown in Fig-une 6 a pair of diametrally opposed lugs 17' provided in recess 16 for engagement with lug wrench 3. Adjacent its outer upper end, closure plug 15 is provided with an annular groove 18 for receiving a gasket 19 to permit tight closing with bushing 13.

To guard against unauthorized tampering with closure plug 15, with consequent Contamination or loss of the container contents or against inadvertent loosening thereof and ensuring leakage, an air-tight, leak-proof seal cap,

20 of tin or other suitable material is provided; said cap 20 being of slightly greater diameter than head 14' and having a depending skirt or side wall 21 extending downwardly beyond said bead. The lower portion of skirt 21 is crimped under bead 14 to render closure plug 15 completely concealed and inaccessible. On its inner surface, cap 20 is provided with an. annular gasket 22 of compressible material, such as cork or the like.

The dislodgment of seal cap 20' to allow access to closure plug 15' is effected by tool A as follows: Seal cap remover is addressed to cap 20 so that the same is embraced by arms 7, 7 (Figure 5'). On the inwardly directed surfaces of their ends, arms 7, 7 will tightly engage skirt 21 as tool A is presented to the cap. However, slight pressure will force the ends of arms 7, 7 past skirt 21 to allow cap 20 to move relatively toward heel 6'. Thus, by the slight convergence of arms 7, 7' tool A is inhibited from accidentally losing engagement with the cap. As arms 7, 7" move by skirt 21, beveled surface 9 of sole plate 8 will be introduced beneath the lower edge of said skirt for engagement therewith substantially throughout one-half of the circumference thereof when tool A is in fully operative position (Figure 5'). Arms 7, 7 will maintain point contact with the outer face of skirt 21 at diametrally opposed points. The under surface of the arm portions of solre plate 8 will confront adjacent portions of drum head 11 for disposition thereon.

With tool A thus in position, the user will lift upwardly upon handle 1 which forms a leverturning upon a fulcrum provided by the engagement of the under portions of sole plate 8 upon the drum head 11. Such upward movement will cause beveled surface 9 to exert an upwardly directed force upon skirt 21 which will be constrained to move upwardly about and beyond bead 14, with the heretofore inwardly turned or c'rim'ped lower edges of skirt 21 being outwardly bent by the forced passage over bead 14. During the seal cap removing operation, arms 7, 7 yield slightly laterally to permit the inner periphery of the sole plate 8 together with the engaged skirt portion 21 of seal cap' 20 to pass about and beyond bead 14, at the same time arms 7, 7" serve to provide lateral support of seal cap 20 so that effective engagement between same and sole plate 8 is maintained.

By this operation, substantially one-half of seal cap 20 will be raised from engagement with head 14 whereby it may be readily slipped from covering relationship over closure plug 15 to expose sarne. The latter may be easily unscrewed for removal by application of lug wrench 3 thereto. I

Thus, as described above, seal cap 20 may be sp'eedily and simply dislodged by a' single operation of tool A as distinguished from the heretofore series of operations required with caps having scored tops. Furthermore, usage of tool A obviates the danger of any injury to the user from the seal cap, whereas, with scored caps, the individual removing same would quite often receive painful cuts from the sharp margins of the tear strips and adjacent parts.

The details of construction can be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope of the claims contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for the removal of a seal cap covering an outwardly projecting flanged opening and plug type closure for a container where the seal cap has a skirt portion formed about an outer circumferential bead on said outwardly projecting flange, comprising an elon-' gated handle having at one end thereof an outwardly opening U-shaped member including an arcuate heel joining a pair of projecting yiel'dable arms for reception of the seal cap between the projecting arms thereof, said U-shaped member having an inwardly projecting lip extending around the bottom inner margin of said arcuate heel and a substantial distance along the bottom inner margins of said projecting arms for engagement with a side portion of the seal cap skirt forup'war'd forcing thereof about and beyond said bead, said projecting arms being adapted to yield laterally to permit said arms to diverge slightly and also pass about and beyondsaid bead while continuously engaging the skirt portion of said seal cap.

2. A tool as described in claim 1 wherein said inwardly projecting lip extending around the bottom inner margin of said U-shaped member is beveled.

3. A tool for the removal of a seal cap covering an outwardly projecting flanged opening and plug type closure for a container where the seal cap has a skirt portion formed about an outer circumferential bead on said outwardly projecting flange, comprising an elongated handle having at one end thereof an outwardly opening U-shaped member including an arcuate heel joining a pair of projecting yieldable arms for reception of the seal cap between the projecting arms thereof, the bottom surface of said U-shaped member being provided with a sole plate which is also U-sha'ped but the arms thereof being of relatively increased width for projection beyond the inner margins of said U-shaped member for engagement with a side portion of the seal cap skirt for upward forcing thereof about and beyond said bead, said projecting arms and adjacent portion of said sole plate being adapted to yield laterally slightly and thereby also pass about and beyond said head while continuously engaging a portion of the skirt of said seal cap and forcing it upward.

4. A tool as described in claim 3 wherein the inwardly projecting portion of the sole plate is beveled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

